Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and UCL are among the UK’s best universities with extraordinary city life, academic value and promising career paths.
However, in recent times, they have also shown the highest number of ketamine cases in Russell Group universities.
According to a 2024 Survey from The Tab, 6,000 UK students were reviewed over their alcohol and drug habits where about 19 per cent stated they had tried ketamine at least once, 22 per cent admitting to using it regularly.
In its ketamine-use ranking, the University of Edinburgh ranked 14th along with Glasgow University.
Ketamine, more commonly known as “horse tranquiliser,” is a medicine or illegal drug used for general anaesthetics or treatment for severe depression. Taking only around 15-20 minutes to take effect, the drug rapidly reduces pain and sensations in the body, practically making you unstoppable from pain and hurt.
However, it can also have the effect of making you feel euphoric and in a dream-like state. An overconsumption of ketamine can cause what’s commonly known as a “k-hole,” causing the lines between your mind and body to blur.
GOV UK reported that 5,365 people in England entered treatment for ketamine problems in 2024-25, up from 426 in 2014-15, more than 12 times as many. Ketamine accounted for 3.2 per cent of adults entering substance-misuse treatment in 2024-25.
Despite these numbers mainly coming from ages 16-24, a recent BBC article revealed children as young as 12 years old reporting severe liver damage and kidney failure due to ketamine use.
The Student contacted university students for comment.
One student, from Oxford Brookes University, said, “Yeah, it’s quite popular here in Oxford, it’s certainly not an unknown thing, people just talk about it casually in conversation like it’s no big deal.”
Another student, from the University of Edinburgh, said: “It’s honestly scary how popular it’s become especially in areas like Cowgate, where we all spend nights out.”
This aligns with trends that ketamine is becoming more accessible; it is unclear whether stricter regulation will improve students’ lives or raise the demand even higher.
If you or somebody you know is struggling with drug addiction, please visit this website.
Photo by Navy Medicine on Unsplash.
